Residency Information

Initial Determination and Reclassification

Initial Determination

A student seeking to pay in-state tuition at a California State University campus as a first-time as a post-baccalaureate/graduate student must have an eligible immigration status to establish residency, meet physical presence by the Residence Determination Date, and demonstrate intent to indefinitely remain in the state of California for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date. If the student is under the age of 19 (with limited exceptions​), the student's residence status is derived from the parent's or from that of the legal guardian.

If you are classified as a nonresident (out-of-state), your will be charged an additional out of State tuition fee. If you are a California resident and believe you have been classified incorrectly, or if you wish to petition for residency reclassification the following needs to be established:

Eligible Immigration Status (US Citizen, Permanent Residents, US Nationals or Eligible Immigration Status)

Student must be a United States citizen, a permanent resident (Green Card holder), or hold an eligible visa status.

If a student does not qualify as a California resident, the student may be eligible for certain exceptions and exemptions, such as California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, commonly known as AB 540. Nonresident students (including US citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals, including students with a T visa U visa, DACA, Humanitarian Parole (certain countries), Special Immigrant Juvenile, asylum, refugee, or Temporary Protected Status) may be exempted from paying nonresident tuition. Students seeking the AB 540 Exemption must satisfy attendance and graduation/transfer requirements from a California school (e.g., K-12, adult school, and community college).

To learn more, visit: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes/Pages/continuing-students.aspx

Physical Presence

The student or parent/guardian must be physically present in California for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date in which enrollment is contemplated.

For example, if a student plans to attend the CSU for the Fall 2022 academic term, and the Residence Determination Date for that term is September 20, 2023, the student must establish physical presence in California no later than September 19, 2022.

Residence Determination Dates

• Fall - September 20
• Spring - January 25
• Summer - June 1

Intent

California law stipulates the burden of proof rests with the student, and merely living in California for a year does not support a claim for residency for tuition purposes. The student, or in some cases a parent or legal guardian, must demonstrate intent to remain indefinitely in the state for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date (RDD) and sever all residential ties with the former state or country of residence. If the student is under the age of 19, the student's residence status is derived from that of the parent or legal guardian unless an exception applies. There must be sufficient documentation to demonstrate that intent was established more than one year (a minimum of one year and one day) before the Residence Determination Date.

Documents must include the student's name, the student's California address, and a date at least one year and one day prior or on the RDD for the term. For example, if the student plans to submit a copy of their driver's license as evidence that they meet residency requirements, the driver's license must be dated before or on September 19, 2022, to meet residency requirements for Fall 2023.

For students under the age of 19, documents must be in the parent or legal guardian's name unless a limited exception applies. Also, a parent or legal guardian's immigration status does not preclude a student from establishing residency; therefore, the parent or legal guardian is not required to provide any immigration documents to demonstrate intent.

Documents Required

A minimum of three documents is required. At least one document must be from list A, and the remaining documents may be selected from either List A or List B.

Options to meet the requirement: 

• Option 1: One document from list A and two documents from List B
• Option 2: Two documents from list A and one document from List B
• Option 3: All three documents from list A (for example, CA driver's license, CA vehicle registration, and CA Voter Registration card)

List A:

• California State Income Tax Return (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
• Ownership of residential property as a primary residence in California (must meet RDD)
• Continuous occupancy of rented or leased property in California (must meet RDD)
• Obtaining a California Driver's License or Identification Card (must meet RDD)
• Registering To Vote and Voting history (must meet RDD)
• Registering a Motor Vehicle Operated in California (must meet RDD)
• Permanent Military Address or Home of Record on Military Records
• Receipt of California state services (e.g., unemployment, disability, CalFresh) (must meet RDD)
• Payment of nonresident tuition at an out-of-state institution if attended within the past year

List B:

• Federal Income Tax Return with a California address (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
• Utility bill (e.g., cell phone, gas, electrical) with the same California address (must meet RDD, and only one utility bill will be accepted)
• Maintaining Active Resident Memberships in Professional Organizations (e.g., police union, teacher's union) (must meet RDD)
• Maintaining an Active Bank Account with a California address (must meet RDD)
• Employment in California (e.g., verification of employment, W-2, pay stubs) (must meet RDD)
• Vehicle insurance with a California address (student must be listed in the policy) (must meet RDD)
• Selective Service Registration with a California address
• Court documents (e.g., ward of the court, divorce decree, or child support)

Actions and/or documents that show residential ties to a State or country other than California may cause a denial of residency.

To submit a residency reclassification request, you must provide all the following items:

1. CSU Residence Questionnaire: Complete and submit the CSU Residence Questionnaire: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/Documents/csu-residence-questionnaire.pdf
2. Eligible Status Document (do not include this for US Citizens): Copy of your Current VISA (and sponsor’s VISA if applicable) or other status document, Change of Status Receipt from USCIS. Please note you must hold an eligible legal status by the Residency Determination date to qualify for residency reclassification. 
3. Presence and Intent Documents:  A minimum of three documents is required. At least one document must be from list A, and the remaining documents may be selected from either List A or List B.

List A:

• California State Income Tax Return (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
• Ownership of residential property as a primary residence in California (must meet RDD)
• Continuous occupancy of rented or leased property in California (must meet RDD)
• Obtaining a California Driver's License or Identification Card (must meet RDD)
• Registering To Vote and Voting history (must meet RDD)
• Registering a Motor Vehicle Operated in California (must meet RDD)
• Permanent Military Address or Home of Record on Military Records
• Receipt of California state services (e.g., unemployment, disability, CalFresh) (must meet RDD)
• Payment of nonresident tuition at an out-of-state institution if attended within the past year

List B:

• Federal Income Tax Return with a California address (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
• Utility bill (e.g., cell phone, gas, electrical) with the same California address (must meet RDD, and only one utility bill will be accepted)
• Maintaining Active Resident Memberships in Professional Organizations (e.g., police union, teacher's union) (must meet RDD)
• Maintaining an Active Bank Account with a California address (must meet RDD)
• Employment in California (e.g., verification of employment, W-2, pay stubs) (must meet RDD)
• Vehicle insurance with a California address (student must be listed in the policy) (must meet RDD)
• Selective Service Registration with a California address
• Court documents (e.g., ward of the court, divorce decree, or child support)

Residence Determination Dates

Official documents must be dated one year and a day prior to the residency determination date. For example, if you submit a lease for the summer 2023 application, it must be dated no later than May 31, 2022.The Residence Determination Date for each term is listed below:

• Fall - September 20
• Spring - January 25
• Summer - June 1